Houston Attorney Skips Court After Criticizing Judge in Viral Video
A scheduled hearing at the Harris County Civil Courthouse proceeded quietly after a judge had ordered a local lawyer to appear. The dispute stems from an email exchange and a viral clip showing a judge berating a county employee.
Courtroom developments
Houston attorney James Stafford did not show for the ordered appearance. Reporters and area lawyers filled the small gallery for the session.
Judge Nathan Milliron briefly sat the bench for an unrelated matter. He did not call Stafford’s name or initiate any contempt proceedings, according to the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association.
How the controversy began
The matter originated when Stafford emailed Milliron after viewing a viral video. The clip depicted the judge speaking harshly to an IT staffer.
Stafford’s message urged the judge to apologize to the employee. Milliron then issued an order directing Stafford to appear in court, citing alleged ex parte communication, based on emails obtained by Filmogaz.com.
Stafford’s response
Stafford maintained the exchange was not an ex parte contact because he has no pending cases before Milliron. He also said he would not treat an ordinary email as a lawful court order.
Legal community reaction
Members of the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association attended the courthouse in support of Stafford. The group had publicly criticized Milliron’s conduct the previous week.
Brent Mayr, the association’s president, described the lack of action against Stafford as a positive outcome. Wade Smith, who leads the association’s Strike Force committee, said the group viewed the judge’s order as overreach.
Free speech and judicial authority
Smith argued Stafford was exercising constitutionally protected speech by criticizing the judge’s conduct. The association said it saw no lawful basis for compelling Stafford’s courtroom appearance.
Possible next steps
The association is weighing whether to file a complaint with the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Mayr noted others have reportedly already submitted complaints.
Judge Milliron, a Republican elected in 2024, has not publicly addressed the viral video or exchanged emails. He did not respond to repeated requests for comment from Filmogaz.com.
The episode, involving a Houston attorney who skipped court after criticizing judge behavior in a viral video, continues to draw scrutiny. Association leaders say an apology to the employee, to Stafford, and to Harris County residents remains appropriate.
